Rent Apartments with Bad Credit

August 20th, 2008 by Snow Conant| Posted in Apartment Guide, Saving Money | 50 Comments »

Having bad credit will not necessarily preclude you from finding apartments for rent. Indeed, it is helpful having a good credit score or an impeccable credit report, as some landlords will request to view your credit history so that they can be sure you plan on paying your apartment’s rent in a timely fashion.

Don’t get too worried if you have a bad credit score. There is typically not a minimum credit score that you need to rent apartments. Apartment landlords will not rely solely on one number in order to decide whether or not to rent to you.

That which is important is that your potential landlord can feel confident that you will be able to afford his or her apartment rental for the duration of your lease and that you can be expected to pay each month.

There are a couple of things that you can do if you do have a problematic credit history. Most importantly, you should be aware of your credit history. You are entitled to 1 free credit report from the three major credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, per year. You can get a TrueCredit 3-in-1 Credit Report, which can show you any discrepancies between how the bureaus have reported your credit history as well as how each calculates your credit score.

If you have bad credit you can always look for apartment rentals or homes for rent that do not require a credit check. Smaller apartment buildings and single family houses for rent usually will not require a credit check unless they are faced with a highly competitive situation.

If the apartment rental you are trying to move into does require a credit report, ask them if you can provide it for them. By avoiding a ‘hard inquiry,’ which is when someone besides yourself requests a copy of your credit report, you can also submit a letter explaining any potential problems. This way you can demonstrate that you will be able to pay your rent on time.

Most apartment landlords will be satisfied with an explanation as well as a letter of recommendation from your previous landlord. Many people have endured financial hardships and have still been able to find apartments for rent by simply demonstrating to their potential landlord that they have been reliable when it comes to rent in the past and can be counted on in the future. Providing a letter of explanation regarding credit reports as well as a letter of recommendation from previous landlords are helpful ways to prove creditworthiness.

Also, too many ‘hard inquiries’ will actually lower your credit score. Although this is not a major part of your credit report during an apartment search, they can add up, especially if too many apartment managers request a copy of your credit report as part of their screening.

So, do not fret if you credit score is below the optimal range. You will still be able to rent apartments, but you may have to take some extra time in your apartment search to prepare. For more information on credit reports, you can check out our blog post called Credit Reports and Apartments for Rent.

50 Responses to “Rent Apartments with Bad Credit”

  1. braxtonsays:
    May 2, 2011 at 2:07 pm

    im basically trying to find a house with no credit check (3 bed with 1.5 bath ) also it need to saty in the 900 lower section.

    Reply
  2. tarasays:
    May 22, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    i need to rent an apartment for me and my family that consist of me my, husband and my 3 little girls which are ( a set of twins – 2 years old and a 3 year old all 3 are girls . I want to move cause im not confortable and the landlord will not fix anything but still in all we are always on time with our rent

    Reply
  3. brandilhamiltonsays:
    May 22, 2011 at 10:35 pm

    im looking for a one bed room apartment in Moreno valley that works with bad credit and low income…

    Reply
  4. Michellesays:
    May 24, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    I am living in the Raleigh,NC area and I have bad credit. I am looking to rent a three bedroom 2bath apartment in the wake county area. I would like for my rent to stay in the 900 range. Can anyone help me?

    Reply
  5. Traceysays:
    May 24, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    Looking for a cheap apartment willing to rent with bad renting history. Trying to get my kids out of fostercare. would be great if I could get my family back together.

    Reply
  6. Alexis Wetterauersays:
    May 29, 2011 at 7:34 am

    Enjoying a quiet morning so far. Dog had issues overnight so the carpet cleaner had a workout. Other than that, should be decent. Nice out.

    Reply
  7. LADYSTCLAIREsays:
    May 30, 2011 at 4:00 am

    I can understand what one person here said about the land lord or apartment manager not taking care of repairs when needed. I know of a case where the apt. manager just don’t care about the over all condition of the apts. that she manages. the only thing that matters to her is the fact that there is a body in each of her units. there was a time, when one family moved out a an apt. the apt. manager would have a through deep cleaning and sanitizing done to that unit before the next tennant moved in. this use to be a health dept. requirement and, I wonder why it is not still being done today. and as for the bad credit part, I think this is just a way to keep out certain people and by doing it this way, if one is turned down, they can’t say its because its race related. this is not fair, and the way I see it, if a person is not paying their rent on time, just evict them. IMO, there is no need to do a credit check.

    Reply
  8. reginasays:
    June 2, 2011 at 8:21 pm

    hi ,, i have been trying to find a place to live with range up to 750.00 so need 2 bedroom ,,, i need so badly and also i do need start new life and better this time for me ,, so i m really fair credit ,, so i am near 50 years old i need a place to live

    Reply
  9. samsays:
    June 8, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    I have one BR to rent until september 2011 with 40% off
    plz call 9139511222

    Reply
  10. steven leesays:
    July 7, 2011 at 1:05 am

    The Apartments are at max capacity and that is why its so important to have good credit because they do not have to take on any risk if they do not have to. This is what we have seen on our end… Great advice…

    Reply
  11. Deborah Smithsays:
    July 10, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    My husband and I need a apartment, we have to move soon. My credit is bad. I am looking for a very nice but clean apartment. With lots of storage. Can pay 700.00 a month.

    Reply
  12. Tiffany Rodriguezsays:
    July 21, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    i just got kicked out of my fathers apartment cause his girlfriend wants to move her kids in i have a 7 year old son who is autistic married and now pregnant with my second child shelters are horrible in Bronx new York i need help as soon as possible i receive ssi for my son but nobody will hire me because i am pregnant i went to 5 interviews so far and no luck my husband is a barber and now trying construction we need help or else we are in the streets please help us a 1 bedroom will be great as well i have bad credit my husband has none

    Reply
  13. casino en lignsays:
    July 24, 2011 at 5:03 am

    Its poverty-stricken to refrain one’s hands on sage people on this thesis, but you reliable like you appreciate what you’re talking surrounding! Thanks

    Reply
  14. BrendaWatsonsays:
    July 24, 2011 at 6:38 am

    Need a one or two bedroom apt. in Philadelpia, credit is bad, have been on my job for 5 yrs this coming October.
    Want to move by the end of August or the beginning of September.

    Reply
  15. teresasays:
    July 26, 2011 at 5:08 pm

    We need a two or three brd. apt. in houston tx norhwest area. Me and my husband have jobs but he has bad credit. We want to move by the end of this month we can pay one rent ahead or same amount of deposit as the rent.

    Reply
  16. Smoohsays:
    July 29, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Looking for a 2br/laundry in building in the oak park, il area. Credit bad due to a divorce. Solid job. really need a chane. Thanks

    Reply
  17. Dennissays:
    July 30, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    My wife and I need move and look for rent apart or studio in orlando florida me credit is bad.We want to move before november 2011. please any hepl write to me.{ E mail,,alabaopr@yahoo.com or dorta49@gmail.com} I work for 14 year in Airport with Airline company . Thank

    Reply
  18. marlisasays:
    August 17, 2011 at 2:10 pm

    hello my name is marlisa i have 2 small kids a 4 year old and a 2 years old i just moved to victorville ca and i am staying wit h friends and i need my own space and its not easy living with other folks i been paying 8oo a month for a 1 BEDROOM and i dont thinks its fair my credit is’nt so good can some one please help me out i am willing to put down a high deposit please contact me thank you and god bless you

    Reply
  19. Cassandrasays:
    August 20, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    I need to rent an apartment in Sunnyvale cause I can get help with first & last months rent with deposit. I need it for myself, my husband & two kids, my son being almost 5, my daughter almost being 2. We need a 2 bedroom apartment because my son is getting the point to where he needs his own room. I can only afford about up to $900 a month at the HIGHEST, can you help me please.

    Im running out of options, I dont have the best of credit & niether does my husband. PLEASE HELP!

    Thank you & god bless you all.

    Reply
  20. Gregsays:
    September 2, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    I was happy to read this article but I think it’s a bit too sunny and optimistic. What if your bad credit includes an eviction (as mine does)? No landlord in Chicago is going to rent to someone who has that on their record and they ALL ask for credit checks.

    Reply
  21. Apartment for Rent in the Philippinessays:
    September 6, 2011 at 1:21 am

    Some landlords are not looking for renter’s bad credit. I guess Google can help you with this. :)

    Reply
  22. larrice hestersays:
    September 6, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    iam a single mom looking for a three bedroom can pay up $700 per month.I have been working for foodlion for ten years, i just had a baby still have income coming in $1400. a month and my teenage daughter brings in $400. a month. please help.Credit is shot because i had a house i was renting but the owner lost the home but had stayed there six years so i rented apartments for my family members and they messed my credit up . Forgive me for being nice.And now me and my family stay in a two bedroom its five if us. if u can help please do.

    Reply
  23. bobbi buenosays:
    September 17, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    I am a single mom, kids ages 18 and 11. My daughter (18) stays with her dad two weeks per month and me two weeks per month. My son (11) lives permanently with me. I work at a major upscale hotel and also have a finance that lives in Seattle WA. He can pay half of my rent and I the other so money is not really the issue. I have semi-bad credit but its old bad credit, nothing recent. I can pay up to $850 and would love to stay in the Northridge, Van Nuys, CA area. I have no evictions and am a clean, nice American tenant that comes with a letter of recommendation from my past landlord. I have a cat. Please advise if you can help me find a home by Oct. 1, 2001 Thank you sincerely.

    Reply
  24. Erick Lopezsays:
    October 7, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    Hi my family & I are lookinqg for a Apartments.We are asking for a 2BEDROOM & 1 BATHROOM WITH BAD CREDIT. (PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU KNOE A APT WITH 2bed and 1bed in long beach,Ca)

    Reply
  25. Brandi Smithsays:
    October 12, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    I have a baby on the way. I am looking for an apartment for my significant other and I. It doesnt have to be fancy. A one bedroom is perfect to start out with. I have credit that might be suffering from continued education and hospital visits. I am not one to break a deal. I have a wonderful job and I make enough money to pay my rent on time, if not early. I live in PINELLAS COUNTY, FL but am also willing to relocate to TAMPA, BRANDON, BRADENTON, and short north of PINELLAS. If there is any help for me, please let me know. I will check my email frequently and promptly.

    Reply
  26. noel Tracesays:
    October 12, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    I have a section 8 voucher for 1200 per month and because I have bad credit at this time no will take my money I cant beleive I have in this economy no one needs 1200 extra dollars a month they can even take it from my checking I need a place 1 bedroom or single in the next 10 days or my voucher will expire can someone in Los Angeles Hollywood or downtown help me to help themselves

    Reply
  27. keichlasays:
    October 17, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    I’m looking for a apartment but I dont have any credic at all and is almost impossible

    Reply
  28. brettsays:
    October 22, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    Hi, I am newly single and went thru a bad breakup. She had a order of protection against me so I had to leave the apartment for 5 months. She used my daughter to get it. I was found innocent of evry charge but My credit was ruined because when I was gone she never paid a dime on anything. I am 26,great job but when I was 17 made a bad choice and a felony was put on my record for something very stupid not harmful against anybody. I let her keep the order of protection in order so I can have visitation rights which she tried to take away but failed. I just need a apartment. I finally got my life in order,have a great paying job,have a degree but this damn felony follows me. Any apartment suggestions in the oswego il area?

    Reply
  29. Joe Greenesays:
    October 23, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    Hi There, Are you still trying to get into an apartment? And you have Credit Problems which are blocking you – correct? Then, contact me, I work for an organization that is not concerned about the condition of your credit report. If you have a job with VERIFIABLE monthly income of $2800 or more – and do not have a criminal background record, we can help you get into an apartment – we can get you qualified.

    Call me … You will have no obligation… everything to gain and nothing to lose… I’ll be waiting for your call.

    Joe Greene
    (817) 993-9282

    Reply
  30. Feeling discriminatedsays:
    November 3, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    I feel that I am being discriminated by the President of the HOA of my future landlord. He is delaying our move to our new rental home because of our bad credit. We have disclosed all our information to our future landlord. We have a great rental track history, great reference and have already signed the contract and have given the money to our landlord. We are just waiting for our interview with the HOA.

    Today was suppose to be the interview, we even got there 15 minutes early because we are so looking forward to be moving to our new home. Only to find out that the interview has been cancelled and the reason was that the president of the HOA wants to delay our move/approval because of our bad credit. No one even called us. He’s had our paperwork for about a week and half now.

    My husband and I and our 2 kids are already packed and need to move out of out current home by tom because our current landlord is moving back in.

    Any advice?

    Reply
    • Snow Conantsays:
      November 3, 2011 at 2:38 pm

      First off, you have our sympathy. In this economic climate, lots of folks have less-than-perfect credit scores, and many are suffering the consequences. It also sounds like the house you planned on having would be perfect, and we are very sorry to hear you are having troubles with the HOA president. We would advise you to prepare for the best AND the worst case scenarios as you need a roof over your head!
      In terms of the current apartment:
      1. Can you find a co-signer with better credit? Often this helps
      2. Can you offer to put down a bit more deposit?
      3. Can you get more recommendations from all your past landlords?
      4. If you really feel you are being unfairly discriminated against, you could consider taking legal action.

      As a back up:
      Can you find another place that would be a suitable (and maybe temporary) option? Many places are open to tenants with poor credit.

      We really do wish you the best of luck – let us know how it goes.

      Reply
  31. donnamichaelssays:
    November 6, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    I need a studio 4 rent—anywhere in California- donnamichaels10@yahoo.com

    Reply
  32. AshleyAsays:
    November 7, 2011 at 2:07 pm

    My father, his girlfriend and I are looking for a two bedroom apartment that allows cats. He has had a past eviction that is keeping us from finding a place to live. He makes a good living but because of that past evicition due to medical reasons we are not able to find an apartment. If anyone can help us that would be great! we are looking for places around oregon city, milwaukie, or clackamas Oregon

    Reply
  33. Annonymoussays:
    November 14, 2011 at 6:06 pm

    We can help. We rent apartments to people with solid income, yet bad credit; nationwide. You find the apartment and with your credit not being strong enough, we use our company creditials to get approved on your behalf. We apply, We get approved, you move in and pay the Rent. Simple.

    Reply
  34. looking nowsays:
    November 17, 2011 at 11:38 am

    Hello i am a wife and mother looking for a 2 bedroom home or apartment west indy, bad credit, steady income, special needs son and disabled husband.

    Reply
  35. Christopher Binnssays:
    November 21, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    Edited! Greetings! Over 40 working couple, married 17 years and earning 110K+ consolidated, looking for a 1 to 2 BR apartment in Brooklyn or Queens, NY! Currently, we reside in a Clinton Hills brownstone, paying 1375/mo and have done so faithfully for 7 years; the place is going condo. We have all MO stubs and receipts of rent payment signed by landlord as proof of consistency. I made a couple of poor choices that brought my credit score down to low 600, but I’ve been at my job almost 17 years. We can pay up to 1600/mo very comfortably and up to 2000/mo if needed and still cover 50x the rent and have money saved. We just need a chance. Please contact me by email cbinns65@gmail.com. Thank you!

    Reply
  36. rayrichardssays:
    November 27, 2011 at 7:47 am

    We went to this company called We Rent For You Leasing Solutions, and they helped me and my wife out. If it wasnt for them, we would been living in a tent. We lived in extended stay hotel for 6 months and no one would lease to us. Its getting very hard out there and its terrible how families have to suffer with this stupid credit thing. We have the funds to lease, me and my wife combined make $7,000 a month. We would of taken anything even a studio just have to have a roof over our heads. Our kids have been going to different schools because we kept moving from motel to motel because of drugs and crime. These extended stays are very expensive, especially the nicer ones, can run you almost $4,000 a month, half of rent payments. If any of you need to a place to live visit http://www.werentforyou dot org this is a co-signing company, and a humantarian business, housing families in this recession market.

    Reply
  37. jeansays:
    December 10, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    I have diabetes and i’m homeless i got ssi and ssdi but i can’t find an apartment for rent because i have bad credit but i have an rv camper so can i get any tips of any longterm rv parks i can make it to so i can plug in

    Reply
  38. melissasays:
    January 3, 2012 at 11:52 pm

    make very low income need to move out asap in salinas,ca can make rent of 300 a month

    Reply
  39. lipssays:
    January 8, 2012 at 6:21 pm

    i am in the same situation but i have bad credit on a credit card.

    Reply
  40. oregon seosays:
    January 10, 2012 at 5:24 am

    Great post. Probably my favorite blog post of 2012 so far. I shared this on google + too!

    Reply
  41. vanessasays:
    January 10, 2012 at 9:19 am

    Hi my name is vanessa and I need to find an apartment as soon as possible, I work, but only bring home 350 every week….

    Reply
  42. UnkieStusays:
    January 15, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    Tips for those with bad credit needing to “rent” an apartment. SAVE EVERY PENNY YOU CAN & DO NOT MOVE OUT OF YOUR PRESENT “DUMP,” YET! When I say “save” I mean “save.” Cut all of your expenses to the bone…EVERYTHING, even if it means being a hermit for the next year or so. In today’s economy, you can “buy” a condo for under 25K. Go look up condos for sale at trulia.com, or other real estate websites. (If you can save for a car, you can save for an apartment!) Find the cheapest and nicest place you can afford to buy, in the nicest neighborhood that you can “mentally” afford to live in. When you save your money, you buy your apartment for cash! Then, the only monthly payment you will need will be your HOA fees. Some could be as high as $250-300 or more each month. BUT, your apartment will be paid for, for the rest of your life! If you own, anything, you will also have to pay property taxes. Mine are $150 per year (Yes, less than $200 per year!) With no real rent payment, you save your money while looking for your next place to live. When you find it, you use your present apt. and cash to move up, and you continue to do so, until you either find what you really like, or find the place where you intend to spend the rest of your life at. So, what to do if the bank won’t give you credit, even with your apt. used as partial collateral? You keep saving until you can afford to pay cash (or your credit has improved) and you move into your new place. What to do with your old place that you don’t need anymore? YOU SELL IT! Because you own it outright, you can be the “bank” and hold the paper on it, and you will have a monthly income from it, for as long as you hold the note on it (always ask for a 20% down, so if people move in and out, you’ll “always” have monthly income from it. DON’T RENT IT! At a small monthly payment, the people you sell to will keep it nice and won’t “normally” screw you while living there; and, if they have a financial problem, you can give them a break for a month or two, because, hopefully, you will be in a financial situation where it is nice to get the money each month, but you won’t get burned if it doesn’t come in on time. Also, when you get to a point where you don’t want to “play games” anymore with people who don’t follow through (you better check them out really good before you sell to them and hold the paper) then, you just put it up for sale, CASH ONLY!

    Now, for those who aren’t interested in this, you find an apartment to live in (with your bad credit) and offer to pay for the whole lease, in advance, before you move-in. In other words, if you are looking for a $1K per month rental, and they want you to sign a six month lease, but won’t for you because of your credit, you offer to pay them the $6,000 (1K per month for 6 months) and all other fees, at the time you sign the 6 month lease. Then, after you move-in, YOU SAVE EVERY PENNY YOU CAN, so you can do the same thing, again, should your current landlord not want to give you a month-to-month after the lease ends, or, they want you to sign another lease, and you will pay that in advance, too; and/or, you just decide to move on out and up, again!

    Best of luck folks. It’s now 2012 and I don’t see anything , financially, getting better for any of us, any time in the near future. Money talks and BS walks. You better start taking care of business; AND, IF YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS PUTTING THE SCREW TO YOU, FINANCIALLY, THEN, GET RID OF THEM, TOO! YOU need a roof over your head; and, if your significant other doesn’t support (emotionally) you for what you want for the both of you, then go it alone.

    Everything I say here, I have done myself, and I am sure glad I did so, and more than willing to share this story with anybody!

    Best of luck, and have a great NEW-YEAR!

    Reply
  43. Save money with energy efficient lighting for your business!says:
    January 25, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    Woah this weblog is wonderful i really like reading your posts. Keep up the great paintings! You realize, a lot of persons are hunting round for this info, you can aid them greatly.

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  44. lynnsays:
    January 29, 2012 at 6:40 pm

    well im in the same boat is there anyone that will help

    Reply
  45. alen hayessays:
    January 31, 2012 at 10:44 am

    My wife and I recently filed chapter 7, which was discharged in January. Our lease is up in June and we need to find a new place. Prior to our discharge we were forced into a 2 bedroom apartment with 3 children. We currently reside in Dupage county (Aurora/Naperville) and we are realistically looking for something around the $1400 range. We both have stable jobs and will able to supply a security deposit. We are looking for a 3 bedroom house/townhouse with a garage and possible basement. Since we have children a good school system is vital. The 204 school district would be wonderful.

    Reply
  46. halsays:
    February 8, 2012 at 6:24 pm

    looking for appt bad credit in miramar or penbroke area make good money need to move by late may early june fam is com from out of the country to live will realy apreciate any tips or advice makes 6000 mont
    thank you

    Reply

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